Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Policy Implementation And (Trans)Forming The K-12 Education (Cis)Tem, Megan Carlson Murray

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This research addresses the critical need for supporting transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) students within K-12 public schools, recognizing the detrimental effects of overlooking their unique needs. Current policies often fail to address these needs adequately, leading to mental health challenges and negative educational outcomes. The study aims to identify the key factors influencing the successful implementation of transgender-supportive policies in schools. A review of current research underscores the importance of challenging existing gender-binary norms and promoting inclusivity for TGNC students. By creating affirming spaces and addressing systemic barriers, schools can foster a safe and supportive environment for TGNC youth, …

A Phenomenological Study Of How Parents Of Lgbtqia+ Youth Experience School-Based Sex Education, Alisha Bachman

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Empirical research on LGBTQIA+ youth and Comprehensive Sex Education is scarce and now, due to the current political climate, is under threat. Utilizing an interpretive phenomenological approach applying ecological systems and queer theory, this study explored the lived experiences of how parents of LGBTQIA+ youth perceive school-based comprehensive sex education. By isolating the phenomenon of comprehensive sex education, this study focused on the immediate context of influence that comprehensive sex education makes on LGBTQIA+ youth and families. This research used data collected through semi-structured interviews with nine different parents. Four themes emerged from the data: Communication and Education about Sexuality …

The Teaching Principles Influenced By Taoist Thought, Cerina Wang

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation explores the integration of Taoist thought into teaching principles to enhance student well-being in the classroom. The study is driven by two primary research questions: What are my teaching principles? and How have Taoist thoughts influenced these principles? Grounded in the Tao Te Ching, this research examines how Taoist philosophy can inform and shape effective educational practices that prioritize emotional balance, self-awareness, and natural growth. The literature review connects Taoist thought with modern educational theories, highlighting its relevance to fostering resilience, intrinsic motivation, and holistic development in students. Using an autoethnographic research methodology, this study draws upon personal …

Memento Mori: A Photo-Elicit Narrative Analysis On Grief, Jared Becknell

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Training and education about grief counseling has been stagnant, stalling the creativity and novel practice when working with bereaved individuals. Counselors in Training often receive minimal education and training in grief, even though clients will ultimately experience this phenomenon. Qualitative research findings provide insights into how individuals actively engage in the grieving process, while promoting their own versions of healing and acceptance through the artifacts kept from deceased loved ones. These findings explore the lived experience of individuals who keep artifacts from a deceased loved one. Results show an active participation in reconnecting to the deceased versus addressing grief symptoms …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Grief In Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Martina Bauer

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this phenomenological descriptive-interpretive study was to understand the lived experience of maintaining attention to one’s responsibilities while grieving among adults diagnosed with ADHD who have recently experienced bereavement in the United States. The population for this study included adults aged 18 and over who had experienced the loss of a loved one in the past 5 years and had a current diagnosis of ADHD. Participants were recruited using a sample of convenience via social media, email, and flyers, employing a snowball sampling technique. There were eight participants who met the inclusion criteria and participated in a semi-structured …

Intersectional Opportunities For Drama Therapy And Counseling, Erica Craig-Mann

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the intersectional possibilities between the fields of drama therapy and mental health counseling through the lens of transformative learning theory. Specifically, the research sought to understand the lived experiences of professionals trained in both disciplines to identify how these fields might mutually inform, strengthen, and enhance one another through collaboration and/or dual training. Data were collected through a qualitative online survey and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: (a) Theoretical and Practical Overlaps and Distinctions; (b) Drama Therapy-Informed Counseling: Embodiment, Creativity, and Experiential Practice; (c) Counseling-Informed Drama Therapy: Frameworks for Practice, …

Reimagining Care: Experiences Of Trauma-Informed Approaches And Deinstitutionalization In Caribbean Child Welfare, Sarah L. Subhan

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explored the perceptions and experiences of child welfare professionals on trauma-informed care and implications for deinstitutionalization in Trinidad and Tobago. The qualitative study utilized research interviews from 21 participants to inform findings. The participants included professionals from various agencies who work with children in care and protection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, yielding six overarching themes (1) the need for training and capacity building in child protection, (2) systemic and organizational challenges to trauma informed care, (3) cultural and community factors impacting child protection, (4) the need to support family units as a pathway to …

Canary In The Alpine: Shifts In Snowbed Plant Communities Over Time In The Adirondack Mountains Of New York, Katie Rhodes

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Due to their unique species diversity and vulnerability, alpine snowbed communities have the potential to serve as early detection or ‘canary’ communities that can inform scientific understanding of the timing and physical manifestation of a changing alpine ecosystem. In the summer of 2008, fifteen alpine snowbed vegetation community transects over 5 mountain summits were established and studied in the High Peaks Wilderness Complex within the Adirondack State Park by the New York Natural Heritage Program. Each transect was 5 meters long and encompassed five 1x1 meter subplots. These transects were relocated and surveyed again in the summer of 2024 in …

Geriatric Care In Corrections: An Exploratory Study Of Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives On The Needs Of An Aging Prison Population, Cynthia A. Scheiderer

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The incarcerated population in the United States is aging. The proportion of adults 55 or older in prison rose from 3% in 1993 to 16% at year-end 2022 (Carson & Sabol, 2016; Carson & Kluckow, 2024). Researchers have consistently found evidence that the prevalence of disabilities and functional impairment is higher among older adults who are incarcerated than among those in the community. As the incarcerated population ages, corrections professionals responsible for providing safety, housing, and health care must respond to the needs of the population. In this qualitative study, 21 corrections professionals from the disciplines of custody, classification, medical, …

Reassessing Criminogenic Risk: How Trauma-Informed Assessment More Accurately Predicts In-Prison Behavior Than Traditional Models, Bree E. Derrick

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Criminogenic risk-needs assessment is the cornerstone of recidivism reduction models in the correctional sector. Despite decades of using criminogenic risk-need tools, recidivism outcomes remain stubbornly high in the U.S. This non-traditional dissertation explored how traditional criminogenic assessments could be improved with the addition of measures of childhood adversity and maltreatment. This study found that the prevalence of ACEs was significantly greater in an adult prison population of 1,522 in a rural, western state than in the general public. Utilizing logistic regression, this research also found that ACEs were better predictors of in-prison misconduct than traditional criminogenic risk-needs assessments, although traditional …

Psychological Safety And Belonging In High-Risk Search And Rescue Teams: A Mixed-Methods Study, Sarah Seiler

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wilderness search and rescue (SAR) volunteers and teams are essential for the safety of outdoor adventurers, and yet, organizational culture has not been studied closely within this population. While extensive research is available regarding psychological safety in corporate and healthcare environments, the role of psychological safety in high reliability teams, like wilderness SAR, is limited. Organizational belonging is a burgeoning research area that has yet to be explored in wilderness SAR. This mixed methods phenomenological study increased the understanding of the experience of psychological safety and organizational belonging in wilderness SAR volunteers. Initial quantitative statistical analysis that utilized t-tests, correlation …

Why Men Join The Incel Community: A Thematic Analysis, Aishwarya Lonikar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Incels have gained mainstream attention in recent years because of increasing sexism and hatred that have manifested as violent acts committed towards women in the real world. This has led to growing research and discussion on social and political culture. The goal of this study is to understand why men join the incel community, to find ways to mitigate the need for men to join such communities. A theoretical thematic analysis was conducted using a survey to gain a deeper understanding of why men choose to join the incel community. A decolonial feminist interpretive framework was used to analyze the …

Behavioral Response Of Wild Greater Caribbean Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Manatus) To Playbacks Of Conspecifics In Maya Beach, Belize, Phoebe Sonia Hodson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The behavioral response of the wild Greater Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) to the acoustic vocalizations of their closely related subspecies, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), was examined for the first time in Placencia Lagoon, Maya Beach, Belize. The main goal of this study was to determine how vocalizations from conspecifics influence the behavior of the wild Greater Caribbean manatee and how this behavioral change may give insight into the functionality of manatee vocalizations. Three call types (squeak, squeal and high squeak) and chewing sounds were played to varying size aggregations of manatees. Broad behavioral …

Examining The Relationship Between Bicultural Stress And Mental Well-Being Among Second-Generation Filipino Americans Living In The United States, Krista Parker

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Research investigating the bicultural and mental health experiences of Filipino Americans, the third largest Asian American group in the United States, are consistently overlooked, with second-generation Filipino Americans (SGFAs) facing greater risk of adverse mental health outcomes. This quantitative study addresses a critical gap in research by examining the relationship between bicultural stress and mental well-being among SGFAs living in the United States. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a multivariate regression analysis examined the relationship between bicultural stress and four mental health constructs (as measured by depression, anxiety, stress, and self-esteem) among 302 SGFA participants. Results from this study strongly …

The Experience Of Psychologists In Providing Unexpected Feedback During Neurodevelopmental Evaluations, Alyssa J. Mayer

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of licensed psychologists who provided unexpected feedback to assessment clients about not meeting the criteria for neurodevelopmental disorders. Individuals are increasingly seeking formal evaluation for neurodevelopmental disorders based on anecdotal information they come across on the internet. Many people develop strong identity attachments to these diagnostic labels, and it can be incredibly dysregulating to learn that they do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis. Six psychologists participated in semi-structured virtual interviews to share their experiences providing clients with this type of unexpected feedback. Through an interpretive phenomenological analysis framework, …

A Participatory Action Research Exploring Results Of Explicit Instruction Of Open Task Problem-Solving Through A Mathematical Mindset, Bridget Ferrin

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

With local assessments showing mathematical achievement below 50% and an increasing need for problem-solving mathematicians, this dissertation investigates instructional methods in math, emphasizing problem-solving skills and fostering mathematical mindsets. The goal was to measure math achievement from the beginning to the end of the year after a Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle at a rural Vermont school serving approximately 600 students from Pre-K through eighth grade. The population in this school is diverse in SES but lacks significant racial and ethnic diversity. Boaler’s (2022) Mathematical Mindset Framework is the underpinning of this Participatory Action Research (PAR), providing the foundation for …

Frozen: A Grounded Theory Of Transgenerational Trauma Cycles In The Evangelical Slavic Diaspora Of Former Soviet Union Refugees, Yulia Shtareva

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation builds on historical and scientific assertions that Former Soviet Union immigrants survived distinct political traumas, resulting in unique, culturally adaptive behaviors and beliefs. Using constructivist grounded theory, it examined how these behaviors manifest in the evangelical Slavic community (ESC) of former Soviet Union Refugees (FSURs) in the U.S. The researcher asserts that (a) adaptations are generationally preserved in the ESC through a “cycle of authoritarianism,” and (b) survival strategies became maladaptive in new social environments. Narratives from eight young adults raised in the ESC were analyzed alongside a literature review and lived experience. Findings show that coping strategies …

Childhood Aggression: A New Conceptualization, Hannah G. Harrison

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Childhood aggression is a frequently observed behavioral phenomenon, yet lacks a precise
definition in both the DSM-5-TR and current research literature. Definitional ambiguity and
construct enmeshment continue to create construct confusion for researchers, clinicians, and
informants. This empirical review of the current literature and diagnostic criteria examines how
childhood aggression has been historically conceptualized, defined, and described. The primary
aim was to identify and clarify inconsistencies in current definitions and to address knowledge
gaps to improve diagnostic clarity. Through a thematic synthesis of recent literature, several key
issues emerged: the absence of a precise definition of childhood aggression; reliance on …

Mapping Kirtland’S Warbler (Setophaga Kirtlandii) Stationary Non-Breeding Habitat: Characterizing Land Cover Within The South-Central Bahamas And Evaluating The Impacts Of Sea Level Rise, Cole Anthony Scrivner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Understanding the spatial distribution of current and future habitat for the Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) and other threatened species is critical for guiding conservation planning in The Bahamas. Our study mapped land cover and impacts of sea level rise across the south-central Bahamian islands, as an initial step to determine suitable areas for Kirtland’s Warblers in the region. We used a Random Forest (RF) classification of multispectral satellite image bands and indices from Landsat and Sentinel-2 image composites to predict land cover. The classification identified tropical dry forest communities (broadleaved, semi-evergreen trees and shrubs known as coppice) as …

Towards The Improvement Of Literacy Education For English-Speaking Caribbean Immigrants, Patricia Antoinette Daley

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This phenomenological study examines the literacy experiences of English-speaking Caribbean (ESC) immigrant students in public schools in New York City, as well as the structural factors surrounding their experiences and the culturally sensitive solutions to these experiences. Although in the English-speaking Caribbean context students often use English, many of them also speak Creole or a dialect. They are linguistic forms, including Jamaican, Trinidadian, Guyanese, among other Creoles, that are frequently misinterpreted or underestimated in formal education systems, resulting in confusion and a lack of appropriate instructional support. This linguistic identity crisis among the Jamaicans through ingrained colonial notions that the …

Exploring The Imposter Phenomenon Among Spanish Esl Doctoral-Level Psychology Students, Celia E. Arauz

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In this study, I examined the impostor phenomenon experienced by bilingual Latina/o doctoral-level psychology students with English as a second language (ESL) who attend predominantly White institutions. To address the lack of literature, I explored how individuals perceive and cope with experiences generated by cultural, linguistic, and racialized academic environments, using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Seven participants completed demographic questionnaires, CIPS screening, and semistructured interviews. I analyzed participants' narratives in an Adlerian framework, emphasizing inferiority, belonging, and purposeful thriving. Findings demonstrated impostor feelings were prevalent. Students experienced multiple challenges when attending mainstream programs. Despite …

Not Everyone Had Glass Slippers: A Black Feminist Trauma-Informed Literary Analysis Of Cinderella, Snow White And Alice In Wonderland, Marcia Lynn Dinkins

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation reimagines Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland through a Black feminist, healing-centered lens to examine how Black girls and women have been erased, misrepresented, and silenced within dominant literary traditions. Through creative retellings, cultural remembrance, and critical analysis, it introduces the Soulforger, a new archetype and methodological figure who refuses erasure, reshapes silence, and forges meaning out of rupture and scar. Developed uniquely within this study, Black Feminist Trauma-Informed Literary Analysis merges Black feminist theory with transformative approaches, material culture, and embodied knowledge to position storytelling as both scholarship and transformation. The retellings—Mari’Ella: A Black Cinderella, Sola …

Embracing The Suck: Overcoming Moral Injury-Related Attachment Trauma Through Outdoor Adventure, Emerald D. Ralston

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Moral injury is increasingly recognized as a distinct and debilitating consequence of military service, arising when individuals engage in, witness, or are unable to prevent actions that transgress their deeply held moral beliefs. In this dissertation, I argue that this form of trauma can be experienced as an attachment rupture, particularly when the military—functioning as an institutional attachment figure—betrays the servicemember’s trust. Such experiences compromise internal working models (IWMs) of self, others, and the world, and may result in complex trauma symptoms, including dissociation, depersonalization, and profound relational disconnection. These injuries are frequently stored in the body, rendering traditional cognitive …

The North American Gap Ungulates Must Migrate Physically And Legally: Elk As A Case Study, Alex Wendlandt

Wyoming Law Review

Humans have tracked elk hoof prints in North America since ancient times, recognizing the significance of these migratory ungulates in culture, mythology, dietary value, and utility. As migratory ungulates, elk respond to changes in their environment by migrating to and from their summer and winter ranges. Today, elk migrations continue across the jurisdictional boundary of the northern United States and southern Canada, spreading ecological and economic benefits with each track they make. Unfortunately, ungulate migration is an “endangered phenomenon” due to loss of connectivity and loss of habitat. While the United States and Canada have acknowledged the importance of, and …

Exploring Institutional Stratification: Minority-Serving Institutional Pathways To Medical School Acceptance In The United States, Amanda K. Burbage, Eushekia Y. Hewitt

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Introduction

Recruiting and training a diverse pool of physicians from historically excluded groups is vital to solving complex scientific problems and increasing access to patient care. Disparate educational and health outcomes of COVID-19 amplified this need. In stratified higher education systems, underfunded institutions that serve greater numbers of underrepresented in medicine (URM) students face unique barriers to entering physician training. However, pathways from historically underfunded minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in the United States to medical school (MD) are not well understood.

Method

A hierarchical logistic regression analysis of 328 488 de-identified applicants to US MD-granting medical schools for academic years 2017-2018 …

The Short And Sweet On Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors And Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists In Heart Failure, Jose L. Batista, Tracy Makuvire, Jonathan D. Davis, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Heart failure (HF) affects 6 million people in the US, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant risk factor for HF. Since 2008, regulatory agencies have required cardiovascular safety trials for new T2D therapies, and these have consistently demonstrated the cardiovascular benefits of glucose-lowering drugs. Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTi) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) reduce major adverse cardiovascular events and deaths, regardless of diabetes status, and improve cardiorespiratory fitness. SGLTis, such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, benefit patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction, significantly reducing HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths. The DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced …

Food Allergies And Quality Of Life In Older Adults: Development Of A Food Allergy Questionnaire, Avalon F. Mustafa

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older adults, yet there is a lack of research on food allergies in this demographic. While there are survey instruments available to study food allergies and quality of life, none of these are tailored to the unique needs of elderly individuals. This study aims to create and validate an on-line survey instrument specifically designed for older adults, focusing on their quality of life in the context of food allergies. The survey will be used to establish a food allergy severity score and a quality-of-life score, enabling comparison between …

Analysing Visitors’ Emotions, Testing The Dramma Model, And Using Reflective Practice For Guided Walk Development, Jane Webb

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between visitor engagement, aura, nostalgia, and emotion in guided walks, demonstrating how these concepts influence the tourism experience. The study advances understanding by offering a pragmatic insight into visitor emotions during co-creation. To achieve the aims, a study of Facebook posts was performed to understand the ties between current and former residents of Torbay. The research's significance stems from its comprehensive examination of visitors' emotional and subjective well-being (DRAMMA) during guided walks. The work assessed contributed to the DRAMMA Model, encompassing detachment, recovery, autonomy, mastery, meaning, and affiliation. The methodological approach follows an interpretative route, …

2025-2026 Career Guide, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing., Morehead State University Career Services.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The 2025-2026 Morehead State University Career Guide from the Morehead State Career Services Office.

A Systemic Analysis Of Helicopter Instructional Accidents In The United States From 2010 To 2022, Gustavo Sanchez Cortes, Dimitrios Ziakkas, Mary E. Johnson

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

A high number of accidents during helicopter training in the United States (U.S.) highlights the need for research to investigate their causal and contributing factors. In this retrospective study, researchers analyzed helicopter instructional accidents reported in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Case Analysis and Reporting Online (CAROL) database. The Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) and Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) methodologies were used to identify hazards and unsafe control actions in helicopter training, using autorotation maneuvers as a case study. Helicopter instructional flights in the U.S. accounted for 299 accidents between 2010 and 2022, with an average accident …